Local entrepreneur spotlight: Welcome to the Bookstore

As part of Anythink Startup Month, we're highlighting entrepreneurs and interesting businesses in Adams County. Stay tuned for weekly profiles throughout September.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking into your favorite bookstore. It has its own atmosphere, its own smells and its own personality. If you’re on the lookout for new bookstores to visit, make sure to put Welcome to the Bookstore on your list.

Located in Brighton, Welcome to the Bookstore was founded by Rose Ramirez and her family out of a desire to provide books for students in the community. Rose works with local schools to make sure her shelves are stocked with the books students need for the school year. Not only does Rose support local schools, she strives to support local authors as well. With a variety of events, including book signings and author visits, Welcome to the Bookstore has become a community favorite in Brighton.

I got the chance to talk with Rose about her store and get some of her advice on starting a business. Here’s what she had to say.

Q: It’s an interesting name for a book store. Is there a story behind it?

Rose Ramirez: Yes, when my oldest son Marcos was a young child, he would always scream, ‘Welcome to the bookstore!’ whenever we’d visit a bookstore. Sadly, he passed away 11 years ago from leukemia at the age of 24. His love of books inspired us to name the store after his famous quote.

Q: What has been a challenge in starting your own business?

R.R.: The high demand of mine and my family’s time. I can honestly say if it was not for my family’s support, we might not be open.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of owning your store?

R.R.: The most rewarding part of owning my own business has been teaching my children how to run the business, and watching it grow alongside them.

Q: Do you have any advice for someone looking to start their own business?

R.R.: Just be ready for long hours and ups and downs in sales.

Stop in to visit Welcome to the Bookstore at 1300 E Bridge St, Brighton, CO 80601.

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Celebrate Adams County’s entrepreneurial spirit through programs, networking opportunities and partnerships during Anythink Startup Month. This month-long series highlights Adams County businesses and resources, with programming designed to help foster business and career skills. With special guest experts, community members are invited to explore everything from design-thinking and marketing to micro-financing and web design.